Florida’s Dixie Highways renamed in honor of Harriet Tubman

The highways flowing through Miami are swapping their Confederate
identity with one that recognizes the iconic leader of the Underground
Railroad.

Miami-Dade commissioners unanimously voted Wednesday to change the name of parts of the Old Dixie Highway to the Harriet Tubman Highway. The change was made to honor the abolitionist who led countless numbers of slaves to freedom.

The renaming took “a staunch, proactive stance on the necessary
eradication of the lingering markers within Miami-Dade County and the
State of Florida which continue to celebrate a painful history of
systemic racism,” the resolution said.

The renaming affects portions of the Old Dixie Highway and West Dixie
Highway that are under the city jurisdiction, including the section
between Southwest 304th Street and Southwest 146th Street, and the
section between Northeast 163rd Street and Northeast 215th Street.

The commissioners also sent a resolution to the Florida Legislature to
rename the portions of the West Dixie Highway that are under its
jurisdiction.

The commissioners noted that the term “Dixie” has racist roots that trace back to blackface minstrelsy, and was the name of the Confederacy’s unofficial anthem.

“It is only fitting that Dixie’s current nomenclature be replaced by the
matchless legacy of a warrior whose heroic and selfless fight for
freedom and justice has served the best interests of Miami-Dade County,
the state of Florida, and the nation,” the resolution said.

Shown is a portrait of Harriet Tubman circa 1885.Shown is a portrait of Harriet Tubman circa 1885.Universal Images Group via Getty